Merida of Skyborne

Merida Petrovna (Russian: Мерида Петро́вна) (29 December [O.S. 18 December] 1709 – 1 January 1899 [O.S. 20 December]), also known as Mer or Mermaid Empress, was the Tsarina of Skyborne from 1717 until her death in 1899. She remains one of the most popular Skybornian monarchs because of her decision not to execute a single person during her reign, her numerous construction projects, and her strong opposition to the British Empire`s hostility towards the Mythical Nations` member-states.

The second eldest daughter of Tsarina Jane II and Tsar Paul II, she inherited the throne after the death of her older sister (Anne) on her seventh birthday; though a regency was advised, her aunts and uncles decided to let her ascend to the throne. The seven-year-old Merida then ascended to the throne as Tsarina Merida. Her seemly happy marriage to the American commoner, Tina, as a teenager produced no heirs to the throne, and the marriage (morganatic in nature) caused waves of outrage in the Empire, as Tina cheated on the Tsarina while the two were married (considered a capital offense); the Empress was outraged, and her relatives were scandalized by the actions of Tina. Tina was assassinated for cheating on the Tsarina with a low-born commoner from her village. The Tsarina remarried to Archduchess Aria of the Holy Roman Empire, which produced two children (both of them girls); Grand Duchesses Jane III and Evangeline. She died on 1 January 1899, making her second wife (Aria), the Tsarina Dowager during the regency of her heir and later successor (Jane III).

Childhood and teenage years
Merida was born at Kolomenskoye, near Artemis, Skyborne, on 18 December 1709 (O.S.). Her parents were Jane II, Tsarina of Skyborne and Paul. Paul was the son of Samuel Skowroński, a subject of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Despite being a commoner, he was cherished by the Kingdom, and encouraged the rough and tumble ways of his second daughter. Her older sister (Anne) was more demure and more ladylike, leading to her being lavished in the attention of her mother. They had one younger surviving sibling, Artemis Petrovna, who was the sixteenth daughter of their parents.

As a child, Merida was the favorite of her father, whom she resembled both physically and temperamentally. Both of them enjoyed hunting, archery, and riding their mounts to the highest points of various mountains.